(photo: www.photorun.net) Will the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon witness its first ever women’s time under 2:20? That is the hope of the organizers after assembling an elite women’s field with impressive strength in depth to achieve this quest. The course record stands at 2:21:01, set by the Ethiopian Meselech Melkamu six years ago and, given good weather conditions, this should come under threat on October 28. Heading the women’s start list is Ethiopia’s World champion marathoner Mare Dibaba, winner of that title in 2015. She will be the first woman to run Frankfurt with a personal best of sub-2:20. The organizers expect up to 15,000 participants for the 37th edition of German’s oldest city marathon. The Mainova Frankfurt Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label race, the highest category awarded by the world governing body of athletics.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. / TAMPA, Fla. (August 23, 2018) – The 2018 Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Philadelphia Half Marathon will once again include a world-class group of elite men and women when they toe the line on September 15-16. With the depth of the elite field, the half marathon, which will take place on September 16, is set to be one of the most thrilling races of the year, taking runners along the flat and fast course that starts on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, runs through Center City before winding along the city’s scenic Schuylkill River and finishing at the iconic “Rocky Steps” of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

New York, August 23, 2018 – Five-time Olympian Bernard Lagat of the United States will make his highly anticipated marathon debut at the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4, as the five-time world champion will join defending champion Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya to lead a men’s professional open division that features nine Olympians and three Abbott World Marathon Majors race champions.

New York, August 21, 2018 – Three-time champion Mary Keitany of Kenya will look to reclaim her crown this year in the open division and Tatyana McFadden of the United States will race for a record sixth title in the wheelchair division at the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4.Keitany and her compatriot, 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon champion Vivian Cheruiyot, will join previously announced 2017 TCS New York City Marathon champion Shalane Flanagan and 2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden of the United States in a women’s open division that features 10 Olympians and three Abbott World Marathon Majors race champions.

McFadden and Romanchuk Repeat as Winners in Wheelchair Division - FALMOUTH, MA (August 19, 2018) – It was a day to rewrite history at the 46 th running of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race, as Ben Flanagan of Canada became the first man from North America to break the tape in 30 years and Caroline Chepkoech of Kenya the first woman to win for three consecutive years since course record-holder Lornah Kiplagat in 2002.

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 16, 2018 – NBC Sports continues live coverage of the 2018 Diamond League track and field series from Birmingham, England, this Saturday, Aug. 18, at 9 a.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. This marks the final stop of the series before the Diamond League Finals. The event will be available live and commercial-free with direct-to-consumer live streaming product NBC Sports Gold’s “Track and Field Pass,” while NBC will air same-day encore coverage Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.

Sambu Seeks 5th Straight; Chepkoech Eyes Course Record; McFadden and Romanchuk Lead Wheelchair Field - FALMOUTH, MA (August 8, 2018)—Making history at the New Balance Falmouth Road Race last year wasn’t enough for Stephen Sambu: After becoming the first man to win here four times, the 30-year-old Kenyan is coming back in quest of a fifth-consecutive victory, organizers announced today.

Tirunesh Dibaba heads high quality women’s field - The elite women’s field for the 45th edition of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2018 is the strongest for many years. At the top of the entries is one of the best female distance runners of all time, Tirunesh Dibaba from Ethiopia. The 32-year-old has won three gold medals at consecutive Olympic Games (2008 and 2012) and five World Championships from 2003 to 2013. For good measure, Dibaba has also five World Cross Country titles to her credit. Her personal best is 2:17:56, set in finishing second at the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon which makes her the third fastest woman in the history of the marathon. Dibaba is keen to beat this time in Berlin and, given ideal weather conditions, might even have a chance of attacking Paula Radcliffe’s world record of 2:15:25, set by the Briton in 2003.